Chapter 18
Edmond Robinson stood frozen at the end of the aisle, his eyes locked on Amelia Austin in her wedding gown. Tears streamed down his pale, hollow cheeks.
“Amy…” His voice cracked, hoarse with desperation. “How can you marry him? You’re my wife!”
The grand ballroom fell into a suffocating silence. All eyes turned to the disheveled man in the doorway-his once-meticulous appearance was now in ruins: his skin ghostly white, dark circles bruising the hollows beneath his eyes, and even his perfectly combed hair lay in disarray.
Amelia met his gaze, her voice cool and composed.
“Mr. Robinson,” she began, her tone devoid of warmth, “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean. When was I ever your wife?”
She raised her chin slightly, a faint trace of mockery in her smile. “Alfred and I registered our marriage three days ago. It’s legal. Recognized by the state.”
She paused, her voice laced with quiet venom. “As for your wife-wasn’t that Miss Blanche Flores? The woman you registered with at the civil office?”
“No!” Edmond stumbled forward, panic overtaking him. Security blocked his path as he shouted, “Blanche and I are divorced! I don’t have a wife anymore! Amelia, it’s always been you. I love you! Please-come home with me. You and April -we can be a family again!”
“Enough!”
A voice like a whip cracked through the ballroom. Mrs. Austin swept up the aisle in a dark designer evening gown, her presence commanding.
“Who gave you the audacity to disrupt my daughter’s wedding?”
“Mom, please,” Edmond pleaded, clutching at any thread of hope. “Just give me a moment to explain. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen…”
“Don’t call me that,” Mrs. Austin cut him off sharply. “You promised to treat my daughter with love and respect. What did we get instead? A forged marriage license and years of deception? You think you can manipulate the Austin family and walk away unscathed?”
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
“He faked the marriage?”
“No wonder the Austins broke off their partnership with the Robinsons. What a disgrace.”
“Mr. Ellison is a far better man. You can see how much he loves her.”
Each whisper twisted in Edmond like a blade. He turned to Amelia, choking back a sob. “I didn’t know! Blanche lied to me -she said she was pregnant with my child, that’s the only reason I married her. I never stopped loving you. Not for a
second…”
Chapter 18
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But before he could finish-
Crack!
A fist slammed squarely into his face. Edmond staggered back, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Alfred Ellison
stood before him, eyes like ice.
“I’ve kept count of every wound you left on my wife’s heart,” he said coldly. “That punch was for tainting her wedding day
with your filth.”
He wrapped an arm around Amelia’s waist and turned to the guests.
“The ceremony will continue.”
Amelia gently patted the back of his hand, her smile soft. “Alfred, don’t waste your energy on someone who doesn’t
matter.”
Alfred looked down at her, his gaze instantly softening. “I just can’t stand the thought of you being upset-especially today.”
Then he raised his voice to the room. “Let it be known-my wife will never suffer a moment of neglect. Not in my hands. She will be cherished, always. That’s a promise.”
“Here, here!”
Applause thundered through the hall. From where he stood, Edmond watched helplessly as Amelia leaned into Alfred’s embrace, her eyes shining with love-the kind Edmond had never truly earned.
“Why?” he rasped, barely on his feet. “Why him? Why Alfred Ellison of all people?”
“You don’t love him,” he insisted, voice rising in desperation. “This is revenge, isn’t it? You married him just to spite me!”
Edmond had grown up in Alfred’s shadow. Their families were close, their backgrounds similar. But no matter what he did, Alfred had always been the golden boy-better grades, better manners, the favorite son.
Even back then, when he learned Alfred had feelings for Amelia, Edmond had rushed to pursue her, just to prove he could beat him at something.
But now even Amelia belonged to Alfred. He had lost. Completely.
“Get out, Edmond.”
Mrs. Austin stepped forward, her gaze sharper than steel.
“The show’s over. Time for you to leave.”
She paused for effect, then addressed to the entire room:
“Effective immediately, the Austin Corporation is terminating all partnerships with the Robinson Group.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. And with that, the final door slammed shut behind Edmond Robinson. Chapter 18
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